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Submitted on 17 Sep 2019
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Ontogeny of personality in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Laura Niccolai, Lucie Debeffe, Georges Gonzalez
To cite this version:
Laura Niccolai, Lucie Debeffe, Georges Gonzalez. Ontogeny of personality in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). International Student Course of Behavioural Biology, Sep 2019, Villetaneuse, France.
�hal-02290635�
Ontogeny of personality in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
L. J. Niccolai ¹*, L. Debeffe 2, G. Gonzalez 2
1 Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France
2 CEFS, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, France
Personality is often described as individual differences that are consistent across time and context [1]. Numerous traits are often used to characterize personality, such as sociability, aggressiveness, exploration, boldness and neophobia [2]. The existence of personality in the animal kingdom is not yet admitted by the entire research community, and relatively few studies have investigated the ontogeny of personality [3]. This longitudinal study explored if roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) exhibited consistent individual differences (personality) in a neophobic situation, and if said personality evolved throughout the years (fawn to adulthood).
1/ We first hypothesized that roe deer would indeed exhibit consistent individual differences and confirm the existence of personality in this species.
2/ Secondly, we hypothesized that personality would stay consistent across time (both fawns and adults would show unique personality profiles).
The findings of our longitudinal study of the existence and ontogeny of personality in roe deer exposed to a novel object context show a time consistency of distinct behavioral profiles [4]. This experiment is part of a larger ongoing project as multiple cohorts are being tested at 1 and 3 years old both in novel object and isolation context at the CEFS. Roe deer behavior is thus being studied in different contexts and at different life stages which could bring us an answer on the existence and ontogeny of personality in this species.
Subjects 1 year old (2013) 3 years old (2015)
Maïs Bold – low feeding Shy
Mica Shy Shy
Mollo Shyest Shyest
Mousse Shy Bold – most vigilant
Minnie Shy Bold
Mylène Boldest – low locomotion Boldest – low feeding
Behavioral profiles Behavioral tendencies : comparison at 1 and 3 years old.
▪ Axis 2 captures individuals' activity, opposing reactive individuals on its positive pole (avoid stimulus, focus on feeding) and proactive individuals on its negative pole (actively seek to interact with object).
▪ Comparison showed that boldest and shyest behavioral profiles stayed consistent over time.
Results confirmed hypotheses as individual differences were found to be consistent across time (fawn to adult) and relevant behaviors to neophobia were repeatable. Our results suggest that roe deer have different behavioral profiles that are consistent in their lives in relation to their reaction to novelty.
▪ Repeatability (R = 0.276, 95% CI [0, 0.592], p = 0.008).
Materials and Methods Introduction
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
▪ “Novel object” test : a novel object was placed in a familiar environment
▪ The behavior of six females was recorded using the "continuous recording" method for 5 minutes.
▪ Total of 42 videos (6 females, 7 sessions)
▪ Behavioral repertoire of 18 behaviors
▪ PCA (Principle Component Analysis) to visualize correlations between behaviors and identify potential profiles.
▪ Repeatability of relevant behaviors to neophobia.
Experimental setting Gardouch experimental station, INRA Analyses (National Agronomy Research Institute)
near Toulouse, France.
▪ Comparison of cohort at 1 and 3 years old to show consistency in time.
References
[1] Sih et al. 2004, Q Rev Bio, 79, 241-277 [3] Debeffe 2015 Anim Behav, 109, 53-63
[2] Réale et al. 2007 Biol Rev, 82, 291-318 [4] Koolhaas 1999 NeuroSci. Biobehav. Rev., 23, 925-935
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Professors Gilles Gheusi and Jean-Luc Durand.
Special acknowledgement to the INRA and CEFS.
* laura.niccolai@yahoo.fr
